The Glittre-ADL test reflects functional performance ...

1 Braz J Phys Ther. The Glittre-ADL test reflects functional performance measured by physical activities of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseManuela Karloh1,2, Cintia L. P. Araujo1,3, Aline A. Gulart1,3, Cardine M. Reis1,3, Leila J. M. Steidle4, Anamaria F. Mayer1,3,5 ABSTRACT | Background: The Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) is a valid and reliable test for the evaluation of functional capacity and involves multiple physical activities of daily living (PADL), which are known to be troublesome to patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

2 However, it is still unknown if this test is also able to reflect the functional performance of patients with COPD. Objective: To investigate whether the TGlittre reflects the functional performance of COPD patients and whether the necessary time to complete the TGlittre and the PADL varies according to disease severity. Method: Thirty-eight patients with COPD (age 65, SD=7 years; forced expiratory volume in the first second , SD= predicted) underwent anthropometric and lung function assessments and were submitted to the TGlittre and PADL measurement.

3 Results: TGlittre performance correlated significantly (p< ) with PADL variables, such as time sitting (r= ), walking (r= ), number of steps taken (r= ), walking movement intensity (r= ), walking energy expenditure (r= ), and total energy expenditure (r= ). TGlittre performance was not significantly different in patients among the Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) spirometric stages, but walking and sitting time were significantly lower and greater, respectively, in severe and very severe patients compared to those with moderate disease (p< ).

4 Conclusion: The performance on the TGlittre correlates with walking and sitting time and other real life PADL measurements. The severity of the disease is associated with the differences in the level of physical activity in daily life more than in functional capacity. Keywords: activities of daily living; accelerometry; outcome assessment; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; physical therapy POINTS The Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) reflects the functional status of patients with COPD. The TGlittre is a simple and feasible test suitable for functional assessment in clinical practice.

5 The TGlittre can be an easy-to-apply method of assessing PADL limitation in TO CITE THIS ARTICLEK arloh M, Araujo CLP, Gulart AA, Reis CM, Steidle LJM, Mayer AF. The Glittre-ADL test reflects functional performance measured by physical activities of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Braz J Phys Ther. N cleo de Assist ncia, Ensino e Pesquisa em Reabilita o Pulmonar (NuReab), Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florian polis, SC, Brazil2 Programa de P s-gradua o em Ci ncias do Movimento Humano, UDESC, Florian polis, SC, Brazil3 Programa de P s-gradua o em Fisioterapia, UDESC, Florian polis, SC, Brazil4 Curso de Medicina, Departamento de Cl nica M dica, Centro de Ci ncias da Sa de, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)

6 , Florian polis, SC, Brazil5 Departamento de Fisioterapia, UDESC, Florian polis, SC, BrazilReceived: May 08, 2015 Revised: Sept. 07, 2015 Accepted: Nov. 23, 2015 IntroductionThe deterioration of functional status is an important manifestation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)1-3. It is characterized by limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and reduction in physical activities of daily life (PADL) and physical activity level4,5, the last being considered the strongest predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with COPD6.

7 As defined by Leidy7, functional status is a multidimensional concept characterizing the ability that a person has to provide for the necessities of life and involves four constructs: functional capacity, performance , reserve, and capacity utilization. Karloh M, Araujo CLP, Gulart AA, Reis CM, Steidle LJM, Mayer AF 2 Braz J Phys Ther. These constructs are distinct, but related and should be considered when selecting tools for functional outcome assessments7. functional capacity is the maximum potential to perform activities, while functional performance refers to the day-to-day activities that people actually choose and need to do during their normal routines depending on the limits imposed by their functional capacity8.

8 Although daily performance is limited by functional capacity, people generally perform fewer PADL than they actually can do and the intensity of the activities that they perform is below their functional capacity9. Kocks et report that functional capacity may be the most important factor for research purposes since it is directly related to the effects of the intervention. On the other hand, they consider functional performance more relevant for clinical management because it reflects the patient s on the need to chose an outcome according to the main purpose (research or clinical) and since the improvement of functional status is one of the major goals of pulmonary rehabilitation programs1, the evaluation of their constructs and the choice of instruments should be done carefully because they can improve the likelihood of detecting true treatment effects in both research and clinical settings.

9 functional performance can be evaluated by direct video observation, movement monitors, or questionnaires8. Direct observation is the gold-standard, however the process is time-consuming, intrusive, and unsuitable for large populations10. Movement monitors are accurate tools that have been validated for functional performance assessment4,10,11, but their higher cost makes their use less feasible in clinical settings. Questionnaires are low-cost and easy to apply but they can be easily influenced by psychological factors or cognitive deficits, since they do not objectively evaluate patient limitations12.

10 Given the difficulty, higher cost, and lower viability of these tools, instruments to measure functional capacity objectively could be used for this purpose. However, they must be able to represent the functional performance of patients with COPD and reflect real-life situations more Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre) is a performance -based test that was developed to reflect real-life situations better, thus improving the assessment of functional capacity of stable12 or hospitalized13 COPD patients and providing additional information about their ability to perform PADL.